Merchandise dispensing apparatus



M. H. voxGTRlTTER 2,531,347

MERCHANDISE DI SPENSING APPARATUS Nov. 21, 1950 Filed Feb. l1, 1946 6Sheets-Sheet 1 AT T ORNEY Nov. 21, 1950 M. H. volGTRlTTER 2,531,347

MERCHANDISE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. ll, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN.EN TOI.

ATTORNEY Nov. 2l, 1950 M. H. volGTRlTTER 2,531,347

MERCHANDISE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 1l, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 AFl' I@ INVENTOR. Z5 124 j Mz'fmazzzzyagme BY j 157 ATT Nov. 2l, 1950 M.H. voxGTRlT'l-ER 2-531347 MERCHANDISE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb.11, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 TT ORNEY No v. 2l', 1950 M. H. voxGTRn-TER2,531,347

MERCHANDISE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 11, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 d'dllmlhn IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY NV- 21, 1950 M. H. volGTRlT-rER 2,531,347

MERCHANDISE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 11, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 41g 40 57]] Z6? 110i, 2;/153 40 L im 1&5 7! 15717./ X 57- [l o 156 Lf [Q5104 755 l/ f` l/K l Y C 3,/ fd. f

e4 L ZZ? j Jef 1 INVENTOR.

` Mpg/'MMM' Zier Py 1,3 W f5/@ TTRNEY yintended to receive a number ofbottles.

Patented Nov. 21, v1950 MERCHANDISE DISPENSING IIARATUS Max HermannVoigtritter, Chicago, Ill., assigner to J. P. Seeburg Corporation,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application February 11, 1946,Serial No. 646,861

` 4 claims. (c1. 31e-4s) This invention relates to merchandise dispens-.ing apparatus for dispensing packages which are round and able to roll.The present apparatus is jprimarily intended for dispensing bottlescontaining beverages but it is adapted for dispensing cans and otherround packages.

The present apparatus comprises a series of superimposed spaced shelves,each of which is The shelves slope downwardly so that the bottles mayroll down the shelves to a vertical channel through which they movedownwardly to the dispensing opening. At the lower end of each` shelfexcept the topmost shelf is provided a gate which prevents discharge ofthe bottles from the shelf until the gate is opened. The gate for eachshelf is mounted to open into the vertical channel so that it is heldclosed by bottles in the channel. When the bottles in the channel aredispensed so that no bottle is opposite a gate, that gate opens allowingthe bottles which it was holding back to feed into the vertical channel.Preferably, the gate for each shelf is arranged so that one or morebottles on the next superior shelf holds the gate closed. Considerablediiculty has been experienced with bottledispensers of this type becausethe pressure of the bottles on a shelf tends to open its gate. Thisdifficulty is obviated to a considerable extent by using the pressure ofone or more bottles on a shelf to hold the gate ber.

low that shelf closed. But the diiculty still remains when the lastbottle on a shelf is discharged. The pressure of the bottles on the nextshelf tends to open its gate somewhat tending to jam this last bottle inthe channel. When this occurs, the operation of discharging the bottlesfrom the shelves is prevented. It is one of the principal objects of thepresent invention to provide means whereby this disadvantage iscompletely eradicated and continued operation of the machine is insureduntil all the bottles are dispensed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved shelf toinsure more satisfactory rolling of the bottles down the shelf, step bystep as bottles pass into the channel. For this purpose, I have slopedthe shelves in their transverse direction as well as in theirlongitudinal direction and I have provided an abutment at the low sideof the shelf against which the base of the bottle tends to abut. Thisabutment may suitably be a ange upturned from the shelf along its lowside. the bottle against this abutment tends to retard the free rollingof that end of the bottle 'down- The friction of the base of wardlyalong the shelf. My machine is so arranged that the natural rollingmovement of a bottle on Ythe shelf tends to rollthe base away from theabutment so that the frictional engagement with the abutment issubstantially reduced. To attain thisv result, the bottles are locatedon the shelves with a slight obliquity to the transverse direction ofthe shelf and I insure the slightly oblique position of the bottles onthe shelf'by locating the gate in similar oblique relation to thtransverse direction of the shelf. l

I have also found that correct rolling movement `of the bottle down ashelf can be enhanced by increasing the friction'between the bottleand-the shelf at the'upper side of the shelf. `I preferto provide alongthe upper side of the shelf a strip of rubber or other suitable materialwhich has greater friction'than the metal of which the shelf is made.When a bottle moves down a shelf one space the next bottle is free toroll downwardly a short distance. Owing to the frictional engagement at-the vupper side of the shelf, rolling of the bottle is'insured and thebottle tends to roll outwardly away from the abutment but its weighttends to move the bottle into engagement with the abutment. However,thefriction at .the base of the bottle is substantially reduced so thatthe bottle moves longitudinally down the shelf and any slight deviationfrom its normally oblique relai tion to the shelf is corrected when itengages the next arrested bottle.

In known bottle vendors of this general type, the bottles in thevertical channel rested upon each other, and the pressure between thebottles particularly at the lower end of the channelA was considerable.The movement of the bottles is accompanied by relative movement betweencontacting bottles with the result that the bottles wore, andconsiderable amounts of powdered glass were produced. It is a furtherobject of this invention to prevent these objectionable results.

A further object of the invention is to maintain the bottles in thechannel in spaced relation and to prevent contact of the descendingbottles in the channel from engagement with metal sur#- faces.

To prevent the jamming which has been vreferred to above, and to preventwear of the bottles in the channel, I provide in the channel a conveyerhaving abutment means which become'lof cated between successive bottlesso at to hold them apart. This conveyer is located in parallel relationto the closed gates so that it consti-f tutes with these-gates theeffective verical chan- -nel for the bottles.

The abutment means are located so that the position of each bottle inthe vertical channel is parallel to its original position on theshelves. In normal condition, each bottle in the channel rests againstthe closed gates and is supported by abutment means on the conveyer. Incase a bottle jams with a slightly opened gatedue to the-pressure ofrthebottles Von the shelfnwhich that gate restrains, `the next upperabutment means engages the jammed bottle and forcibly moves it down thevertical channel. It will be understood that in each dispensing.operation, the conveyer is moved downwardly so that the bottles aremoved down onespace in. the

vertical channel and the lowermost; bottle isdis.-

metal-lic. engagement in the channel. t.Affurther.object oftheinvention/is to render vthemachineadaptable for bottles of differentdiameters, and for this purpose I provide relative adjustmentbetweentheconveyer and the assembly of shelves.

:The conveyer maysuitably be constituted by .twoaendless chains.carrying projections at appropriate positions. These chains are drivensimultaneously and are so .arranged that the Adownwardlymovinglengthsthereof `are in posi- .tionto-cooperate with the' bottles.v the upwardly.moving lengths of the chainsbeingremote therefrom. Suitable means, suchas a vertical rod is located so; asltoengage the bases of the bottlesmoving.; down .the vertical. channel.

fApfurther object of thev invention is to provide .improveddeliverymechanism for receivinga bottle-.from the conveyer and deliveringit tothe .,customer.

.A further'objectofthe'invention is to provide .an improvedmerchandising machine which is renderedV inoperative vwhen a dischargedbottle is .notfremoved by the customer.

l. @thenh objects, advantages, and -capabilities of the' invention willappearsinthe following description `of a preferredfrembodiment thereoftaken yin conjunction Iwith the accompanying drawings in which..

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional; elevation of aumachine embodyingymy`invention, the front of the pmachine beingonthel left;

.EF.g.' 2 isa fragmentary sectional. elevation of .themachine as4 viewedfrom the front, the section ,being taken on the broken line 2-2 of Fig..l;

:Fig Bris K a perspective `view-showingl .the shelf carrying frameandthe manner in which it is adiustably mounted on thecabinet;

vl is a fragmentary sectional plan view showing. the conveyer and anyassociated shelf,v the section being taken on the broken line 4-:4 of

,-Fig.- 5A is-a fragmentary'perspective view of the ,underside of ashelfshowing the mannerv in which :.aqfggate .isV mountedthereon.;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational View showing .the lowermost.she1fandmechanism assoelatedv therewith;

:Eiglis a'fragmentary'elevational-view of the conveyerlactuatingmechanism; this Imechanism being. in normal position;

Figr 8 lis va similar view showing' the lmechanism at-an intermediateIposition in its operation;

F.g. 9 isa fragmentary plan'viewashowingthe Strips'- of rubber orrubber-like L .material on..t-he .gates keepythe -bottles outvof .tomove'faster than their bases.

discharge cradle in full lines in its normal position and in phantom inits discharging position;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the discharge openingand associated parts;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing mechanismassociated with the discharge chamber in actuated condition;

Fig. 12 .is a front elevational view of the coin controlled mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a similar view showing this mechanism in actuated condition;

Fig. 14 isa fragmentary side elevational view showing this mechanism inactuated condition; and

Fig-15 is a fragmentary elevational View showing the discharge chamberand associated mechanism as viewedv from the inner side of the dischargechamber.

vReferring to the drawings reference numeral 20 designates the cabinetas a whole. The bottles are stored within the cabinet upon a series ofslopingshe1ves 2| 1 and in a vertical channel 22 into which the bottlesare delivered from the shelves. Upon eachshelf is mounted a gate 23which normally ,prevents the egress of bottles from the next shelfbelow.This gate is arranged to beheld closed by 1a bottle on the shelf whichcarries the gate ,or by a'bottle in the vertical channel 22 opp.ositethe gate. The bottles are discharged one by one fromthe bottom of thechannel 22 yand. it .will readily be appreciated from Fig. l that asvthe bottles move down one by one in thechannel 22 the bottles roll fromthe top shelf 2| onei by one intothe channel 22 and when the last`bottle-from the topmost shelf 2|. clears the topmost gate 23 this gateopens and the bottles are lthen fed-one by. one. from the second shelf2| into the channel;22 andso forth until all the bottles havebeendispensed. Each shelf 2| com- .prises a main web, a. downwardlyturned outer flange 24 and an .up turned lateral flange 25 which servesas anI abutment for the bases of the bottles. The shelf 2| slopesdownwardly towards the channel 22 and it also slopes downwardly from thefla.r1ge;2||4 to they ange 25 so that the bottles tend bygravity tobcaragainst the flange 25 and t0 roll' towards the vertical channel 22. I'ndthat there is a tendency for vthe shoulders of the bottles I nd thatthis tenden-cy'is obviated to a-great extent by applying to the topsurfaces-of the shelves 2| adjacent the flanges 25|, strips 2Sfofrubberor other material having greater frictionv than the metal of whichtheshelves are formed. I find it to be of advantage to arrange thebottles slightly oblique to the transverse direction of the shelf 2| asshown in Fig. 4. Consequently I arrange the elements whichconstitutethe-channel 22, which will hereinafter be more fully describedwith the desiredobliquity.

Each shelf 2| lis mounted by means of angle arms 2l on two verticalchannel members 28. These-channels are connectedrigidly by a plate 29rand a housing 30 to constitute a single rigid frame. The plate 29 has aflange at its upper end which isA received in the recess in a channel 3|secured-tto the upper end of the cabinet. The lower end of the framecarries slotted lugs 32 which are secured to the'side of the cabinet byscrews; 33. 'I-heupper end of the frame carries screws 34 whichsecuretheframe to the channel me1nber'3l Ywit-h the aid -of washers. It willreadily be `understood that if the screws 33 and 34 are loosened .theframecanbe adjusted to the left or right as1viewe5d; in Fig. .1 so thatthe vertical channel 22 may be adjusted any' width for the reception ofbottles of different sizes. A scale 35 on the plate 29 cooperates withan arrow 36 on the channel member 3i to indicate the setting of theframe.

The housing 39 rotatably supports a shaft 31 which rigidly carries arms38 and 39. The end of the arm 58 is turned outwardly and is slotted asshown in Fig. 3 so as to receive a flat arm 40 projecting radially froman actuating shaft ll carried by the door 42 (Fig. 11) In the normalcondition of the mechanism the arm lil and the arm 38 are horizontal sothat the arm 49 moves into the slot in the arm 38 freely when the dooris closed. The slotted arm 39 is arranged to cooperate with a pin 43carried by a rocking member 45. rlhe pin il?, is relatively long so thatit remains engaged with the arm 39 in all .positions of the bottlecarrying frame.

Each shelf 2l is provided with a transverse opening d5 in which the gate23 carried by it is pivotally mounted. Beyond the opening 115 the mainweb of the shelf 2| is dished downwardly at G5 to provide a recess inwhich the web 4l of the gate 23 seats. At its extremity remote from thedownwardly turned web 48 of the gate, the web il has secured thereto aflat element 49 having two trunnions at its end. One of these trunnionshas a bearing in the strap 5u secured to the underside of the shelf 2l.r Ehe other has a bearing in a plate 5i mounted on a bracket 52 byscrews 5I' mounted on the rear side of the flange 25. The plate 5l isshown in phantom in Fig. 5. The flat element 59 carries an upwardlydirected arm 53 which is connected to a spring 55. The arrangement issuch that the spring 54 biasses the gate 23 to upward or open positionas shown on the top shelf of Fig. 1.

As shown in Fig. 6 the lowermost shelf 2l has associated therewith a rod55 which is guided in openings in the bracket 52 and in a bracket 55 sothat it extends in a horizontal direction towards the door and isarranged to abut against the arm 53. The rod 55 is biassed towards thearm 53 by a weak spring 5?. portions connected together by a turnAbuckle 59 so that its effective length may be varied in accordance withthe adjustment of the bottle carrying frame to the left or right asviewed in Fig. l. The outer end of the rod 55 engages an abutment 5Smounted on the door e2. When the lowermost gate is closed the rod 55 hasthe position shown in Fig. l. When the last bottle in the machine clearsthe lowermost gate the gate opens and the rod 55 displaces the abutment59 to the left as shown in Fig. 6.

The gate 23 is preferably formed of a piece of stock which is bent toprovide the webs il and 48. The exterior of the web 48 is preferablyprovided with strips 6i) of rubber or other suitable material againstwhich the bottles in the vertical channel 22 bear. The bottles aresupported in the vertical channel 22 by means of the strips 56 and bymeans of projections 6l carried by two endless chains 63, which are bestshown in Fig. 2. These chains are mounted vertically by means ofsprocket wheels 65 which are carried by a frame 55 mounted in the rearof the cabinet. The chains are driven in opposite directions so thattheir adjacent lengths move downwardly. The projections 5I on theadjacent lengths of the chains support the bottles, the projections onthe remote upwardly moving lengths being out of contact with the bottlesas best seen in Fig. 4. The bottles are held in proper position in thever- The rod 55 comprises two ,f

tical channel 22 by means of a vertical rod'GS which is arranged toengage the bases of the bottles. The projections 6| are arranged so thatthey support the bottles in the inclined positionwhich they had when'resting on the shelves 2i, this inclination being preferably around 10.The upper sprocket wheels 54 are mounted on plates 6l which are slottedto receive machine screws 68. The tension of the chains 63 may beadjusted by releasing the machine screws 68 and actuating machine screws69 supported on lugs on the frame 65 and threaded into lugs 10 on theplates 61. v

The lower sprocket wheels 64 rigidly carry pinions (not shown) whichmesh with intermeshing pinions il. One of the pinions 'Il rigidlycarries a pinion l2 which meshes with a gear 13. During the dispensingoperations the arm 39 is rotated in clockwise direction as viewed inFig. into its position in Fig. 8 and then it is moved back to bring thearm 39 into its normal position of Fig. 'l rocking the rocking member44. In normal position therecess of a dog 14 engages one of a series ofpins 'I5 on the gear 13. During the first movement of the arm 39 the dog'I4 is withdrawn from that pin and the recess of a dog 16 engagesanother pin 'l5 rotating the gear 13 half a step in thecounter-clockwise direction. After the engaged pin 'l5 is nested in therecess of the dog i5 the dog must move in clockwise direction relativelyto the rocking member d!! since it must follow the circular movementwhich is the only rn vement available for the engaged pin. During thenext movement of the rocking member 55 into its position in Fig. 7 thedog 'I6 is Withdrawn from the engaged pin 'i5 and it is moved incounterclockwise direction relative to the rocking member d4 by a springTl into its normal position on the rocking member 44. rIhis. position isdefined by the engagement of the tail on the dog against an abutment 18.At the end of the first movement the dog 'i4 is positioned by its spring'i9 against an abutment 80 so that the U formation of the dog l isopposite the next pin( i5 in the clockwise direction. Consequently thedog 'M engages this next pin and moves the gear i3 another half step inthe counterclockwise direction and the double movement of the arm 39 hasthus moved the adjacent lengths of the chains 65 down one spacing of thebottles in the vertical channel 22. Thus the lowest bottle in thevertical channel 22 has been carried past the lowermost gate so that itdrops freely on to a guide 5i which directs it on to a cradle 32. As

bottles in the vertical channel 22 move downward during successivedispensing operations the bottles are fed from the discharging shelf,for example, the second shelf in Fig. l and when all the bottles aredischarged from the shelf and the bottles in the vertical channel 22clear the topmost closed gate, that gate opens and the bottles aredischarged successively from the next shelf. When the last bottle isdispensed the gate on the lowermost shelf moves upwardly and the rod 55is moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 with results 'which willhereinafter be described. The cradle 82 is integral with a frame 83which is pivoted at 86! to a stationary frame 85. The axis 8d isdisplaced forwardly from the vertical approximately 16 as shown inFig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2 the cradle 82 normally extends downwardlyapproximately 10 from the horizontal so that it is parallel to thedischarging bottle. After the cradle receives this bottle it swingsforwardly by gravity through 90 in its inclined airain-i7 planesoi that`it is located at arr angle of appro-ximately 20 :to the horizontal atthe end of the swingfas shown inphantom in Fig. 1. The cradle is,eduippedwith two series ofrollers 86 so that thebottleisreeio slidedownl through the discharge opening ,8? into the discharge chamber 8,8..

I'have.v previously referred to the` oblique` relation to thebo.ttles.11elatiye to the shelf 2|, as shown. in'Fig... 4. rllhisvoblique relation` is. attained by locatingthegate 23 in a, similarobliquerela.- tion so that they make a slightly acute angle with thelower side of the shelf 2| as is, best seen in Eig. 4. The conveyerelements, 6| which lcooperatewith theVY gates 23 to define the Verticalchannel 22 are located insimilar oblique, relation. It will beunderstood that when a bottle is freed: to roll Clown its shelf 2|, thefriction strip 2S causes the bottle to roll down ratherthanitoslidegdown., In this rolling movement the bottletends torrollaway from the flange 25 and the weightof the bottle tends to slide itaxially into engagement with the flange 25. This effect substantiallyreduces the friction at the base of the ,bottle during rolling.

Whenrthe bottle drops on to the cradle its base engages an upturnedlatch 8,9 which normally projects upwardly beyond the free end of thecradle 82. 'lhe latch 8 9 is carried by a frame 9|) whichislocatedbelow'the cradle 82 and is pivotal- 1y mounted on the cradle bymeans` of a lug 9|. The pivoted frame 9,@- includes; a. downwardlyextending arm 9| which is arranged to engage an adiustable abutment 93carried by a bracket 95,

when the` cradle has completed its swing into, its 1'..

phantom position in Fig. l. This; engagement swings the` frame Se in thecounterclockwise direction as Viewed in that gure so that the bottle isfreeY to roll oil the cradle intoy the discharge chamber-281 The fiameV9 9 is biassed into/its normal position by spring 95 so that when thecradle mores away from its discharging position the latch 89 is againmoved upwardly. In order to prevent the bottle from rolling 01T thenormally low side of the cradle 82 I provide on that side of the cradlea fence. 961 and I. also provide. a; rubber covered rollerQl. on theframe 85 to engage the upper-end-of the dischargingv bottle.`

The cradle 82 is biassed! into its receiving positionbymeans of aweight'e which is carried on one arm of a belly crank` lever 99- whichis pivoted at on. the frame 85; The upwardly directed arm ot the. lever99 is connected by a link IGI tothe frame 483 which carries the cradle.The sizeof the weight 9S is selected so that a bottle of any commercialsize will carry the cradleiroin its normal to its discharging position.The weightilll maybe adjusted on, the lever 99 to'- accommodate themachine to bottles of practically any weight. Stops-|92 and I 9.3,preferably of. rubber denne the extreme positions of the cradle 8:2.`

The door-4t2. like the-walls. of thecabinet is well insulated,theinterior of the'cabinet being chilled by a refrigerating unit, notshown. On theouter side of thedoor d2 isprovided another door |94.arranged to provide a. space |35 for the accomlnodation of the mechanismwhich will: hereinafter be described. The outer door |84 carries acoinslot I andl a. coin chute IIl'I which delivers a coin to a slugrejecting mechanism (not shown) which returns a. slugl tothe return cupthalsoi carried: by the outer-door |34. An acsented. coin `is delivered`by the chuteA |09, as

shownEnz-Fig.:l2 The outer'door IIJ4' also.'pivctalY ly supportsamactuatinghandle t|1||whichz1is rigidlyconnected tot aV bihlrcated armvI tl." located onlthc inside of7 the door |124' (Eig. 13)'. The door Hitis provided with an opening IZadJacentthe coin. slot |05.. r:he outerdoor |04 is: provided with a discharge opening I|3 in alignment withthe` discharge chamber 88, which is carried by the. door. d2., Onthe-inner side'the door |04 carries a. collar |14. .which normally abutsagainst thc door 4:2,.around the discharge opening |'|5 in they door:42. At its upper end thecollar 4 carries an inwardly hookedmember ||6for removing crown seals from the dischargedbottles. Atits lowerendthecollar H4' is provided. with an. openingvr ttl. so` that the removedcrown seals may drop downwardly into ar suitable receptacle. (nonshown). As bestseen in Fig. 1 the lower end of the opening II3 projectsupwardly abovethe innemend-ofthe collar; II4 so as toprovide aproiectinlggiange itagainst which the base of the discharged bottle mayrest ready for the customer to pick: it up..

When :the doors are. closed the forked end of the arm I. embraces a pinII9 carriedjby an arm |20 which. is. pivotally mountedon the door 42.This arrn` iis normallyA biased upwardly by a spring IZ-.lso that itsinwardly directed flange |122 abuts. againstzasurface. |23 on a, bar |24as shown in Fig. l2. The bar |24 is supportedv by a pair of parallellinks |25. and it isr biased into its normal position shown in Fig.v 12by a spring |526; The lowerzlfnk |25. isv rigidly secured to themtuating. shaft 4I: which is pivotally mounted on the door #I2 so; thatthe downward movement of' the bar .1124s effects the.y discharge of abottle in the manner previously described. The bar |24 is provided withan arcuate-.opening |21 in the normal pathof the arcuate flange. |22 sothat actuation of the .handle HE] without the introduction/of a. coindoes not. actutae the bar |24 and doesnct elect the discharge of abottle. An upwardly extendinglink Iuis connected to the arm: |20 and;to; the slugV rejecting mechanism (not shown) for the purpose ofactuating the scavenger of such mechanism torelease magnetic slugswhich4 may be retained. therein. Thisy scavenger consequently operateson every actuation ofthe handle I I0..

The accepted coin passing. through the chute Iilv is delivered to acoinA nest constituted bythe bar |24', a paralleli spaced flange |34, aninclined strip |39, a flange |3| and a shoulder |33. 'Ihe flange |134and. the'` shoulder |33 are provided by a bracket. 1:32 secured to therear' side of the bar |24. The flange ISI extends upwardly from the rearside; of the strip L30 which is carriedA on the rear: side and at thelower end offa lever |29. The lever 29 isV integral with lugs |36whereby itispivoted on lugsextending, forwardly from the bar- |;24,vbymeans of a pin|3'|. A coin-being delivered; bythe chute H19 to the bar|24, passes betweenv the lever |29 -and theange |.3I onto thestrzfpI-and into. engagement with the shoulder |13. When received in its nest,one side of the coin is' restrained by parts of the bar |24 on eitherside `of its-slot, |21. The other side of` the coin-is restrained theflanges |34 and |3|. Aspring |133 Abiases the. lower end of the lever|29 forwardly so that its strip v|30 normallyy engages the rearfacefof,` the bar |24. At the upper end of thelslotIZ-'I- the bar |2-iis provided with a. recess I-39which provides a surface |49 which issubstantially inl alignment with the upper edge of acoinnsupportedxonathe bar |24 as shownA iuI Fig. 12. With a coin in thisposition actuation of the handle I l swings the arm |20 downwardly sothat its flange |22 engages the top edge of the coin. The bar |24 ismoved downwardly carrying the lever |29 with it. The arcuate movement ofthe ilange |22 causes it to enter the recess |39 and engage the surface|40 after a very slight downward movement oi the bar |29. Continueddownward movement of the ilange |22 moves the bar |24 downwardly to itsfull extent by engagement of the ange |22 with the surface |48. A fullstroke mechanism comprising a spring pressed dog |4| and a toothedmember |42 carried by the bar |24 compels complete actuation of thehandle I8 to effect the rst displacement of the gear 13. The handle il!)may now be released and the strong spring 44' returns the rocking member44 te its normal position (Figs. 2 and '1), discharging a bottle to thecradle 82 and returning the handle ||0 to initial position. Completereturn of the handle |0 is necessary for such discharge of a bottle. Theupper end of the lever |29 is bent rearwardly so that it engages a xedabutment |43 carried by the door 42 so that the lower end of the bar |29is swung rearwardly after the bar |24 has moved down part of its stroke(Fig. 14). The strip |30 is thus withdrawn from the coin so that itfalls downwardly into a small chute |45 carried by the bar |24 so thatthe coin is delivered into a coin box |48 which may be removablysupported on the door 42. In the event that a second coin is insertedbefore the handle ||0 is actuated the second coin engages the first coinand the upper end of the strip |30 in such manner that the second coinrolls to the right as viewed in Fig. 12 and is delivered by the chute|41 to the return cup |08.

In the event that the machine is empty a genuine coin is also returnedto the cup |08 through the chute |41 by means of a projection |48. Thisprojection is carried at the end of a lever |49 pivotally mounted on thedoor 42 and is biased towards the door 42 by means of a spring |59. Whenthe lever |49 is in its normal position the projection |48 is clear ofthe bar |29 but when it is swung forwardly the projection closes theslot between the bar |29 and the bar |3| so that an incoming coin isengaged by the projection |48 and is directed into the coin chute |41.When the machine is empty the rod 55 is displaced to the left as viewedin Fig. 1 and the abutment 59 mounted in the door 42 is likewisedisplaced to the left. The abutment 59 engages the upper arm oi a bellcrank lever |50 which is pivoted on the door 42 so that the bell cranklever is swung in counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. l whenthe machine becomes empty. The upwardly directed arm of the lever |58carries a lateral extension |5| whi ch is located behind the lever |49.Consequently when the machine becomes empty both levers |58 and |49 areswung in the same direction' and the projection |48 is moved into coinreturning position. The horizontal arm of the lever |50 is connected bya link |52 to a flag lever |53 which is pivotally mounted on the door 42adjacent the window I2. The flag lever is biased towards its normalposition by means of a spring |54 which holds the lever |50 against theabutment 59. In its normal position the flag lever |53 holds suitableindicia in register with the window ||2. As shown in Fig. 12 thisindicia may indicate the coin which should be used to purchase a bottle.When the machine becomes empty and the lever |50 is actuated by theabutment 59 the flag lever |53 is' displaced so as to bring the wordEmpty into of the door 42 by means of a screw |58. The` upper end of thelever |51 extends behind the lever |49 so that when the lever |51 isswung by a bottle in the discharge chamber 88 the abutment |48 againblocks the slot between the bars |29 and |3| so that coins arereturnedto theI return cup |08 until after the discharged bottle ispicked up out ef the discharge chamber 88.

The discharge chamber 88 is in the general form of afrusto-conicalrchamber which extends inwardly from the door 42 aroundthe discharge opening I5 in the door 42. Along its lower downwardlysloping side the discharge chamber 88 is provided with two rails whichare in spaced relation. A number of horizontal spindles |8| arerotatably carried by the rails |88. Each spindle |8| carries two conicalrubber rollers |82 to serve as a conveyer for the descending bottle, theapices of the rollers |82 being directed towards the centerA To preventescape of cold air from the cabinet,`

I provide a door or ilap |84 which closes the'opening 81 except when abottleL is being discharged.-

. This door is arranged to be moved upwardly by means of a pivoted lever|55 connected to its upper end. This lever is pivotally mounted at |65and its end remote from the door |64 carries a roller 61 which isadapted to be engaged and actuated by the flat arm 40 when the arm ||0rotates the actuating shaft 4| so that the doorkv |84 is elevated intoits position shown in Figs.v ll and 15. The bell crank lever |58 isnormally biased by its weight against a side of the door |84. When thedoor |84. is elevated the bell crank lever swings into its position inFig. 15 so that its upper end holds the door open. An abutment |58 onthe door limits the latching movement of the lever |68. The door 54 maybe guided in any suitable manner. It is preferred to provide it with anaxial slot |10 which receives va projection l1! carried on the upperside of the discharge chamber 88. Bell crank lever |58 is pivoted at |12so that its generally horizontal arm |13 extends across and below theopening 81.-- The arm |13 pivotally carries a dog |14 which is biased bya weak spring |15 against an abutment |16 on the arm |13. The dog |14 isarranged to be engaged by the latch 89 as cradle 82 swings to its bottledischarging position. This engagement merely swings the dog |19 againstthe actionof'f its spring |15. When the bottle rolls ofi the cradle 82the cradle returns to its normal position under the action of the weight88. During the return movement of the cradle the latch 8'9 engages theThe flap |55 is connected by a link |56;`

left hanrl-v sidehofthe-dog |14 asviewed; inFig. lhso that'the bellcrank .lever |68 is'swung into unlatchingfposition whereupon the door|84fmoves downwardly into its normal position.

In loading the machinea bottle is inserted over the lowermost shelfsothat the lowermost gate ismoveddcwnwardly. This iirst bottle is broughtmtoiengagement with two abutments BI on the coni/ever chains B3so thatthis bottle holds the lowermostz gate down. The next bottle is movedinflovfer the second shelf `from thebottom in similarfashion until itrests on the next two abutments` iii. and holds the gate for thelowermost shelfi closed. This4 operation Ais continued untilallithegates are closed and' the channel is filled withbottles. The`remainder of the` bottles are placed on the shelves and-those bottles onall the shelvescxceptitheiuppermcst shelf are restrained byfthemlcsedgates. The doors are thenclosed and locked and the machine is ready foruse. It'risto be notedi that the bottles in the vertical channel-arenormally engaged by a pair of abutments- `iand-hy the'strip |59 on thegate. Their bases:engage therod 65. Since the bottles in the. channelare in spaced relation, their downward.l movement inV the channel is notaccompanied by. any abrasive action on the bottles.

The customer inserts a coin lin the coin chute mt; This coinL becomesseated in the coin nest asfshownin Fig. 12. The customer nowactuatesthexhandie i yiwhich .brings the :flange |22y ofV the the: surface |66on the bar |24 so thatthis bar isa .moved downwardly intoits position inFig. 13;` Afterthe toothed member |42 .on the bar |24" has been engagedby the dog |4| so asi to compel complete` actuation of the handle H0,therlever |29is swung by the abutment |43 so that the strip |36 is swungaway from the coin, permittingthe cointo drop onto `the small chute|551A which. delivers it to the coin box |46. The actuation of' thehandle |19 swings the rocking member- 4 from its position in Fig. 7 intoits position in Fig. 8, moving the conveyer chains downwardly. halastep. rThe bottles in the channelaare moved downhalf a step but thelowermcstbotte still remains in the channel. The handle'i I9` is nowreleased and the spring 44 roc-lis the rocking member M back toitsinitial position` iniFig. 7 and thebottles in the channel are` moved'.down another:v half step. The lowermost bottle inthe channel is nowfreetoxroll over the guidev 8| and onv tothe cradle 82. Its base engagesthelatchl 89. Owing to the weight cfithe` bcttlathe cradle 82swings aboutits pivot sorthatthe bottle isdirected downwardly towards the-.openingv8i and the latch 89 is depressed so asto releasethebottle on the cradleso that it can slide downwardly through the discharge opening. 81. intothe discharge chamber 88. The discharged. bottle rolls over' the rollers|62 and over the friction-block |83. Thisblockacts as la hrakeslowingthe movement of the bottle so that its. base engages the flange I |8with a very gentle impact. It may be noted that in the case cfacarbonated beverages it is desirable to avoid agitation-cf. the contentsof the b ottle.

Whenlthe. handle was actuated, thearm 40 openedthe gate I 54 before thedischarging bottle was.;izll-'liveredl to the cradle v8,2. This gatewas.

.latchedopen-.by thelever |68 so that the bottle 82 passed the dog |14.After the bottle slides downwardly offfv the cradle 82'the cradle isfree to return to its normal position under thev influence of the weight98.. Whenthecradle is thus moved backto its normal position, thev latch89 engages the dog llll swinging the latch lever |68 vaway from thegateV |54 so that this gate is free to return to its normal position,closing the opening 81 when the discharged bottle is picked up out ofthe discharge chamber 88. When the bottle enters the discharge chamber88` it swings the fiap |55 so that the upper end of the lever |51 isswung'forwardly projecting the hanged-48 into the path of another coinwhich may be linsertediinto the coin chute |06. The flange |48 returnsthe coin to the'cup |08 and the machine is rendered inoperativeruntilthe discharged bottle is lifted'out of the .discharge chamber 88.

Whenthe bottles in the'verticai channel; .are moved` downwardly 'half astep ata time-another bottlefrolls from the uppermost shelf into.- theAchannel in two half steps. This bottle is received by the next twoeifective abutments at' the upper endV of the channel soY that thechannel is always replenishedas bottles are discharged from its lowerend. The vbottles on the shelves maintain' the gates closed. When thelast bottle on the upper shelf rolls off' the web 41' of the uppermostgate, thev weight of the bottles in'thesecond shelf tends to `open theuppermost gate. This tendency-isopposed bythe bottle lastI dischargedfromihe uppermost shelf which bottle becomes located opposite 'thisgate. Should the gate apply 4suliicient pressure to the last'.discharged bottle from the uppermostshelf to impede the free descent .ofthis bottle during the next dispensing operation, the two abutments 6|above this bottle engage its upper sideforcibly moving the bottleAdownwardly clear -off the uppermost gate. This gate is now free toVopensc that the bottles arewdischarged from'. the: second shelf intothechannel as bottles are discharged from its lower end. This operationcontinues until all the bottles are discharged from' all the shelves anddispensed. When the last bottlek embodiment thereof, it must beunderstood that' such details are not intended to be limitative of theinvention except-in so far-as set forth in the accompanyingclaims.

Having thusA described my invention, I declare thatwhat I claim is:

l. A dispensing mechanism for round articles comprising plurality ofspaced superimposed shelves for said articlesa vertical dischargechannel for said articles, said shelves sloping downwardly towards .saidchannel whereby said articles tend to roll into said channel, a gate atthe end of each shelf arranged to beheld closed by the articles in theAchannel and arranged to'- openA when the portion of the channel oppositethe gate is free of articles whereby the articles previously. restrainedby the' gate are free to rollinto the channel as articles .are removed'therefrom.

conveyor means in said channel in parallel spaced relation to the closedgates, said shelves being sloped also in their transverse direction, andan abutment along the low side of each shelf against which the articlestend to abut, said conveyor means and said gates being located With aslight Obliquity to the transverse direction of the shelves and making aslightly acute angle with the low sides of the shelves, so as to locatethe articles on the shelves with similar Obliquity whereby the articlestend to roll down the shelves and away from their abutments and tend toslide transversely into engagement with the abutments, therebysubstantially reducing the friction between the articles and theabutments while the articles are rolling down the shelves.

2. A dispensing mechanism for round articles comprising a plurality ofspaced superimposed shelves for said articles, a vertical dischargechannel for said articles, said shelves sloping downwardly towards saidchannel whereby said articles tend to roll into said channel, a gate atthe end of each shelf arranged to be he d closed by the articles in thechannel and arranged to open when the portion of the channel opposite c.

the gate is free of articles whereby the articles previously restrainedby the gate are free to roll into the channel as articles are removedtherefrom, conveyer means in said channel in paraLel spaced relation tothe closed gates, said shelves i being sloped also in their transversedirection, an abutment along the low side of each shelf against Whichthe articles tend to abut, a strip of friction material along the upperedge of each shelf to cause the articles to roll down the shelf, saidgates being located with a slight obliquity to the transverse directionof the shelves and making a slightly acute angle with the low sides ofthe shelves so as to locate the articles on the shelves with similarObliquity, whereby the articles tend to roll down the shelves and awayfrom their abutments and tend to slide transversely into engagement withthe abutments, thereby substantially reducing the friction between thearticles and the abutment While the articles are rolling down theshelves.

3. In a dispensing mechanism, a shelf assembly comprising a plurality ofspaced superimposed shelves, said shelves sloping downwardly in theirlongitudinal direction and in their transverse direction, an upturnedflange along the lower side of each shelf, and a gate pivotally carriedby each shelf to retain articles on the next lower shelf, each gatebeing slightly oblique to the transverse direction of the shelf and foiming a slightly acute angle with the lower side of the shelf.

4. In a dispensing mechanism, a shelf assembly comprising a plura ity ofspaced superimposed shelves, said shelves sloping downwardly in theirlongitudinal direction, and in their transverse direction, an upturnedflange along the lower sido of each shelf, a friction strip along theupper side of each shelf, and a gate pivotally carried by each shelf toretain articles on the next lower she f, each gate being slightlyoblique to the transverse direction of the shelves and forming aslightly acute angle vwith the lower side of the shelf.

MAX HERMANN VOIGTRITTER.

CTED

The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

STATES PATENTS Numrer Name Date 733,584 Hoffmann July 14, 1903 814,712Leighton Mar. 13, 1906 1,149,377 Loveren Aug. 10, 1915 1,240,321Dickinson Sept. 18, 1917 1,451,216 Gruetter Apr. 10, 1923 1,655,090Cunningham Jan. 3, 1928 1,803,146 Robbins Apr. 28, 1931 1,893,708Kauffman et al. Jan. 10, 1933 1,897,072 Parks et al. Feb. 14, 19331,931,159 Greene Oct. 17, 1933 2,002,753 Parks May 28, 1935 2,005,092Kuhn June 18, 1935. 2,053,637 Scott et al Oct. 27, 1936 2,178,001 SiehrsCct. 31, 1939 2,189,740 Mills Feb. 6, 1940 2,296,444 Kohl et al Sept.22, 1942 2,313,424 Esgro Mar. 9, 1943 2,326,504 Smith Aug. 10, 19432,336,382 Albrecht Dec. 7, 1943 2,338,714 Garner Jan. 11, 1944 2,358,563Donaldson Sept. 19, 1944 2,360,241 Kuhl Oct. 10, 1944 2,393,370 HamiltonJan. 22, 1946

